Clamp Device and Packaging Box Assembly Incorporating Said Clamp Device

ABSTRACT

A clamp device clamps together two panels having aligned receiving holes, and includes a tubular wall adapted to be inserted into the aligned receiving holes and having a through hole, first and second abutment plates connected hingedly and oppositely to the tubular wall within the through hole, first and second clamping plates projecting transversely and respectively from the first and second abutment plates, two resilient arms projecting from the second abutment plate and respectively having engaging ends, and a locker having two groove sidewalls formed on the first abutment plate and confining a groove therebetween. The clamping plates move away from each other to a clamping position when the abutment plates abut against the tubular wall. The groove receives and locks the engaging ends when the abutment plates abut against the tubular wall, thereby locking the clamping plates in the clamping position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a clamp device for clamping together a baseand a cover of a packaging box and to a packaging box assemblyincorporating said clamp device.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional packaging box assembly for acomputer monitor 100 is shown to include a base 91 to support thecomputer monitor 100, a cover 92 covering the base 91, and a pluralityof clamp devices 90 to clamp together the cover 92 and the base 91. Thebase 91 has a surrounding wall 911, and a plurality of spaced-apartreceiving holes 912 provided in the surrounding wall 911. The cover 92has a surrounding wall 921, and a plurality of spaced-apart receivingholes 922 provided in the surrounding wall 921 and aligned respectivelywith the receiving holes 912. Each clamp device 90 includes a hollowseat 94, two movable clamping seats 95, and a positioning seat 961. Thehollow seat 94 includes a four-sided tubular wall 942 inserted into thecorresponding aligned receiving holes 922, 912 and having a through hole943, and a flange 941 that projects outwardly and transversely from anend periphery of the tubular wall 942, that surrounds the through hole943, and that abuts against an outer surface of the surrounding wall 921which defines the corresponding receiving hole 922. The movable clampingseats 95 have L-shaped configurations, and respectively include abutmentplates 951 connected hingedly and respectively to two opposite sides ofthe tubular wall 942 within the through hole 943, and clamping plates952 connected transversely and respectively to the abutment plates 951.The positioning seat 961 is to be inserted fittingly into the throughhole 943, and has a pull ring 962 projecting outwardly therefrom. Whenthe positioning seat 961 is inserted into the through hole 943, itpushes the abutment plates 951 to abut against the tubular wall 942, sothat the clamping plates 952 are moved simultaneously to abut against aninner surface of the surrounding wall 911 that defines the correspondingreceiving hole 912. Hence, the cover 92 and the base 91 are clampedtogether by the flange 941 and the clamping plates 952. To separate thecover 92 from the base 91, the user simply hooks a finger into the pullring 962 and pulls it outwardly so as to remove the positioning seat 961from the through hole 943. Subsequently, the hollow seat 94 togetherwith the clamp seats 95 can be pulled out of the corresponding alignedreceiving holes 912, 922.

Although the conventional packaging box assembly can achieve itsintended purpose, since the clamp devices 90 are not connected fixedlyeither to the base 91 or to the cover 92, the clamp devices 90 areeasily misplaced or lost when the base 91 and the cover 92 are separatedfrom each other. Hence, the conventional packaging box assembly isinconvenient to use. Further, to connect stably the base 91 and thecover 92, aside from the hollow seat 94 and the two movable clampingseats 95, the positioning seat 961 is needed to maintain the clampingseats 95 in a clamping position. This results in a complicated structurefor each clamp device 90 so that the overall cost thereof is increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a clampdevice and a packaging box assembly incorporating said clamp device thatare capable of overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art.

According to one aspect of this invention, a packaging box assemblycomprises a base including a first panel having a first receiving hole,a cover including a second panel adjacent to the first panel and havinga second receiving hole aligned with the first receiving hole, and aclamp device to clamp together the first and second panels. The clampdevice includes a hollow seat, a movable clamp unit, a pair of resilientarms, and a locker. The hollow seat includes a tubular wall that isinserted into the aligned first and second receiving holes and that hasa through hole, and a flange projecting outwardly and transversely fromthe tubular wall and surrounding the through hole. The movable clampunit includes a first abutment plate connected hingedly to the tubularwall within the through hole, a first clamping plate projectingtransversely from the first abutment plate, a second abutment plateconnected hingedly to the tubular wall within the through hole andopposite to the first abutment plate, and a second clamping plateprojecting transversely from the second abutment plate. The first andsecond clamping plates move toward each other when the first and secondabutment plates move away from the tubular wall. The first and secondclamping plates move away from each other to a clamping position whenthe first and second abutment plates abut against the tubular wall. Thefirst and second clamping plates project outwardly and transversely fromthe tubular wall, and are substantially parallel to the flange in theclamping position. The resilient arms project from the second abutmentplate in a direction opposite to the second clamping plate, andrespectively have engaging ends. The resilient arms extend across thethrough hole when the first and second abutment plates abut against thetubular wall. The locker has two groove sidewalls formed on the firstabutment plate and confining a groove therebetween to receive and lockthe engaging ends when the first and second abutment plates abut againstthe tubular wall, thereby locking the first and second clamping platesin the clamping position.

According to another aspect of this invention, a clamp device forclamping together at least two panels having aligned receiving holescomprises a hollow seat, a movable clamp unit, a pair of resilient arms,and a locker. The hollow seat includes a tubular wall that is adapted tobe inserted into the aligned receiving holes and that has a throughhole, and a flange projecting outwardly and transversely from thetubular wall and surrounding the through hole. The movable clamp unitincludes a first abutment plate connected hingedly to the tubular wallwithin the through hole, a first clamping plate projecting transverselyfrom the first abutment plate, a second abutment plate connectedhingedly to the tubular wall within the through hole and opposite to thefirst abutment plate, and a second clamping plate projectingtransversely from the second abutment plate. The first and secondclamping plates move toward each other when the first and secondabutment plates move away from the tubular wall. The first and secondclamping plates move away from each other to a clamping position whenthe first and second abutment plates abut against the tubular wall. Thefirst and second clamping plates project outwardly and transversely fromthe tubular wall, and are substantially parallel to the flange in theclamping position. The resilient arms project from the second abutmentplate in a direction opposite to the second clamping plate, andrespectively have engaging ends. The resilient arms extend across thethrough hole when the first and second abutment plates abut against thetubular wall. The locker has two groove sidewalls formed on the firstabutment plate and confining a groove therebetween to receive and lockthe engaging ends when the first and second abutment plates abut againstthe tubular wall, thereby locking the first and second clamping platesin the clamping position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent in the following detailed description of the preferredembodiment of the invention, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partly exploded perspective view of a conventional packagingbox assembly incorporating a plurality of conventional clamp devices;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged assembled sectional view of theconventional packaging box assembly;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary partly exploded perspective view of a packagingbox assembly according to the preferred embodiment of this inventionincorporating clamp devices of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the preferredembodiment, illustrating a clamp device in a non-clamping position priorto insertion into aligned receiving holes in a base and a cover of thepackaging box assembly;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the clamp device in the non-clampingposition and a retaining unit of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary assembled sectional view of the preferredembodiment, illustrating the clamp device in a non-clamping position;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the retaining unit and the clamp device in thenon-clamping position;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 6, but with the clamp device in aclamping position; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary assembled perspective view of the preferredembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 9, the preferred embodiment of a packaging boxassembly 1 according to the present invention is shown to comprise abase 11, a cover 12, a plurality of clamp devices 3, and a plurality ofretaining units 2.

Each of the base 11 and the cover 12 is rectangular, and is made bycutting, folding, and bending cardboard. The base 11 is adapted tosupport a product, such as a computer monitor 100, and includes fourfirst panels 111, and a plurality of first receiving holes 112 formed inthe first panels 111. The cover 12 is sleeved on the base 11, andcooperates with the base 11 to pack the computer monitor 100therebetween. The cover 12 includes four second panels 121 adjacentrespectively to the first panels 111, and a plurality of secondreceiving holes 122 formed in the second panels 121 and aligned with thefirst receiving holes 112, respectively.

Each of the retaining units 2 includes a cord 21 and a fixing element22. The fixing element 22 is connected fixedly to the second panel 121in proximity to the respective second receiving hole 122. The cord 21has two opposite ends connected fixedly to the fixing element 22 so asto form a loop 211.

Each of the clamp devices 3 is a single-piece component made of plastic,and clamps together one of the first panels 111 and one of the secondpanels 121. Since the structure of each clamp device 3 is similar, onlyone of the clamp devices 3 will be described hereinafter.

The clamp device 3 includes a hollow seat 31, a movable clamp unit, apair of resilient arms 334, and a locker 324. The hollow seat 31includes a four-sided tubular wall 313 that is inserted into the alignedfirst and second receiving holes 112, 122 and that defines a rectangularcentral through hole 312, and a flange 311 projecting outwardly,transversely, and integrally from an end periphery of the tubular wall313 and surrounding the through hole 312. The tubular wall 313 has twoopposite long sides 316, and two opposite short sides 316′ connectedbetween the long sides 316. A tab 314 extends outwardly from one side ofthe flange 311 that is proximate to one of the short sides 316′ of thetubular wall 313, and has a cord-looping neck 318 projecting outwardlyfrom the tab 314, and an enlarged cord-limiting head 319 connected tothe cord-looping neck 318. The loop 211 of the cord 21 is loopeddetachably around the cord-looping neck 318, and is limited theretothrough the cord-limiting head 319.

The movable clamp unit includes first and second abutment plates 321,331 respectively having ends 325, 335 connected hingedly andrespectively to the opposite long sides 316 of the tubular wall 313within the through hole 312 in proximity to the flange 311, a firstclamping plate 323 projecting transversely from the opposite end 322 ofthe first abutment plate 321, and a second clamping plate 333 projectingtransversely from the opposite end 332 of the second abutment plate 331.The first and second clamping plates 323, 333 move toward each other sothat they are in their non-clamping positions when the first and secondabutment plates 321, 331 move away from the long sides 316 of thetubular wall 313 (as best shown in FIG. 6). The first and secondclamping plates 323, 333 move away from each other to a clampingposition when the first and second abutment plates 321, 331 abut againstthe long sides 316 of the tubular wall 313 (as best shown in FIG. 8).

The pair of resilient arms 334 project from the second abutment plate331 in a direction opposite to the second clamping plate 333, andrespectively have engaging ends 337 (as best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6).The resilient arms 334 extend across the through hole 312 when the firstand second abutment plates 321, 331 abut against the long sides 316 ofthe tubular wall 313 (as best shown in FIG. 8). A support plate 341projects transversely from the end 332 of the second abutment plate 331oppositely of the second clamping plate 333, and is fixed to theresilient arms 334. Therefore, the resilient arms 334 extendtransversely of the support plate 341 while projecting transversely fromthe second abutment plate 331 (as best shown in FIG. 5). The engagingends 337 of the resilient arms 334 extend beyond the support plate 341.Two ribs 339 are respectively provided on the resilient arms 334opposite to the support plate 341 to facilitate handling of theresilient arms 334.

The locker 324 has a limit plate 320 projecting transversely from theend 322 of the first abutment plate 321 in a direction opposite to thefirst clamping plate 323, and two groove sidewalls 326 formed on andprojecting transversely from the first abutment plate 321 and fixed toand projecting transversely from the limit plate 320. The groovesidewalls 326 confine a groove 329 therebetween, and have ends definingan access opening 328 therebetween opposite to the limit plate 320 topermit the engaging ends 337 of the resilient arms 334 to extend intothe groove 329. The groove 329 receives and locks the engaging ends 337of the resilient arms 334 when the first and second abutment plates 321,331 abut against the long sides 316 of the tubular wall 313, therebylocking the first and second clamping plates 323, 333 in the clampingposition. Preferably, the ends of the groove sidewalls 326, which definethe access opening 328, are bent inwardly and oppositely to form corners327 at two sides of the access opening 328. The resilient arms 334 arecompressible to move the engaging ends 337 toward one another and topermit the engaging ends 337 to disengage respectively from the corners327. Two spaced-apart guide surfaces 3292 project from the firstabutment plate 321 at the bottom of the groove 329 and extend from thelimit plate 320 to the access opening 328 adjacent respectively to thegroove sidewalls 326. The guide surfaces 3292 are inclined in such amanner that the thickness of each guide surface 3292 graduallydiminishes from the limit plate 320 to the access opening 328 (as bestshown in FIG. 6).

With reference to FIGS. 3, 6, 7, and 8, to use the packaging boxassembly of the present invention, the computer monitor 100 is firstmounted on the base 11, and the cover 12 is then sleeved over the base11 to cover the computer monitor 100, after which the loop 211 of thecord 21 of each retaining unit 2 is looped around the cord-looping neck318 of the respective clamp device 3 (see FIG. 7) so as to retain theclamp device 3. At this time, the first and second receiving holes 112,122 are aligned respectively to each other. The clamp devices 3 are theninserted into the respective aligned first and second receiving holes112, 122. For the sake of brevity, only one clamp device 3 will bedescribed hereinafter.

The tubular wall 313 is inserted into the aligned first and secondreceiving holes 112, 122 with the flange 311 abutting against an outerwall surface of the second panel 121. In this state, the first andsecond clamping plates 323, 333 are in their non-clamping positions andextend beyond an inner wall surface of the first panel 111. The supportplate 341 and the resilient arms 334 extend beyond the outer wallsurface of the second panel 121 (see FIG. 6). When the resilient arms334 are pressed inwardly, the support plate 341 presses the first andsecond abutment plates 321, 331 to move respectively to the long sides316 of the tubular wall 313 (see FIG. 8), and the engaging ends 337extend into the groove 329 through the access opening 328 and sliderespectively along the guide surfaces 3292. When the engaging ends 337reach the limit plate 320, the engaging ends 337 respectively engage thecorners 327 and abut against the respective groove sidewalls 326. Thelimit plate 320 limits the engaging ends 337 from moving out of thegroove 329 in a direction opposite to the access opening 328.Consequently, the first and second abutment plates 321, 331 abutrespectively against the long sides 316 of the tubular wall 313, and thefirst and second clamping plates 323, 333 move to the clamping position.In the clamping position, the first and second clamping plates 323, 333project outwardly and transversely from the long sides 316 of thetubular wall 313, abut against the inner wall surface of the first panel111, and are substantially parallel to the flange 311. The flange 311and the first and second clamping plates 323, 333 cooperatively clamptherebetween the first and second panels 111, 121.

To remove the clamp device 3 from clamping the first and second panels111, 121, the resilient arms 334 may be simply pressed toward each otherso as to disengage the engaging ends 337 from the respective corners 327of the groove sidewalls 326, after which the resilient arms 334 arepulled away from the groove sidewalls 326 bringing along the supportplate 341. As such, the first and second abutment plates 321, 331 arepermitted to move away from the long sides 316 of the tubular wall 313,and the first and second clamping plates 323, 333 are permitted to movetoward each other. At this time, the cover 12 can be lifted upwardly soas to be separated from the base 11, and the product or the computermonitor 100 is revealed.

Since the clamp device 3 is connected to the respective retaining unit2, the problem of misplacing or losing the clamp device 3 afterseparating the cover 12 from the base 11 as encountered in theconventional packaging box assembly is thereby resolved. Further, sincethe clamp device 3 of the present invention makes use of the engagementbetween the engaging ends 327 of the resilient arms 334 and the groove329 to lock the base 11 and the cover 12, the structure of the clampdevice 3 is simplified as compared to the clamp device 90 of theconventional packaging box assembly, so that the material costs of theclamp device 3 are reduced.

While the present invention has been described in connection with whatis considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it isunderstood that this invention is not limited to the disclosedembodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included withinthe spirit and scope of the broadest interpretations and equivalentarrangements.

1. A packaging box assembly comprising: a base including a first panelhaving a first receiving hole; a cover including a second panel adjacentto said first panel and having a second receiving hole aligned with saidfirst receiving hole; and a clamp device to clamp together said firstand second panels, and including a hollow seat including a tubular wallthat is inserted into said aligned first and second receiving holes andthat has a through hole, and a flange projecting outwardly andtransversely from said tubular wall and surrounding said through hole, amovable clamp unit including a first abutment plate connected hingedlyto said tubular wall within said through hole, a first clamping plateprojecting transversely from said first abutment plate, a secondabutment plate connected hingedly to said tubular wall within saidthrough hole and opposite to said first abutment plate, and a secondclamping plate projecting transversely from said second abutment plate,said first and second clamping plates moving toward each other when saidfirst and second abutment plates move away from said tubular wall, saidfirst and second clamping plates moving away from each other to aclamping position when said first and second abutment plates abutagainst said tubular wall, said first and second clamping platesprojecting outwardly and transversely from said tubular wall and beingsubstantially parallel to said flange in said clamping position, a pairof resilient arms projecting from said second abutment plate in adirection opposite to said second clamping plate and respectively havingengaging ends, said resilient arms extending across said through holewhen said first and second abutment plates abut against said tubularwall, and a locker having two groove sidewalls formed on said firstabutment plate and confining a groove therebetween to receive and locksaid engaging ends when said first and second abutment plates abutagainst said tubular wall, thereby locking said first and secondclamping plates in said clamping position.
 2. The packaging box assemblyof claim 1, further comprising a retaining unit fixed to said secondpanel in proximity to said aligned first and second receiving holes andhaving a cord, said hollow seat further including a tab extendingoutwardly from said flange and having a cord-looping neck, said cordbeing looped around said cord-looping neck.
 3. The packaging boxassembly of claim 2, further comprising a support plate projectingtransversely from said second abutment plate oppositely of said secondclamping plate and fixed to said resilient arms, said resilient armsextending transversely of said support plate while projectingtransversely from said second abutment plate.
 4. The packaging boxassembly of claim 3, wherein said locker further has a limit plateprojecting transversely from said first abutment plate in a directionopposite to said first clamping plate, said groove sidewalls being fixedto and projecting transversely from said limit plate and said firstabutment plate, said groove sidewalls having ends defining an accessopening therebetween opposite to said limit plate to permit saidengaging ends of said resilient arms to extend into said groove, saidlimit plate limiting said engaging ends from moving out of said groovein a direction opposite to said access opening.
 5. The packaging boxassembly of claim 4, wherein said ends of said groove sidewalls are bentinwardly and oppositely to form corners at two sides of said accessopening, said engaging ends of said resilient arms respectively engagingsaid corners and abutting against said groove sidewalls after extendinginto said groove, said resilient arms being compressible to move saidengaging ends thereof toward each other and to disengage respectivelyfrom said corners.
 6. A clamp device for clamping together at least twopanels having aligned receiving holes comprising: a hollow seatincluding a tubular wall that is adapted to be inserted into the alignedreceiving holes and that has a through hole, and a flange projectingoutwardly and transversely from said tubular wall and surrounding saidthrough hole; a movable clamp unit including a first abutment plateconnected hingedly to said tubular wall within said through hole, afirst clamping plate projecting transversely from said first abutmentplate, a second abutment plate connected hingedly to said tubular wallwithin said through hole and opposite to said first abutment plate, anda second clamping plate projecting transversely from said secondabutment plate, said first and second clamping plates moving toward eachother when said first and second abutment plates move away from saidtubular wall, said first and second clamping plates moving away fromeach other to a clamping position when said first and second abutmentplates abut against said tubular wall, said first and second clampingplates projecting outwardly and transversely from said tubular wall andbeing substantially parallel to said flange in said clamping position; apair of resilient arms projecting from said second abutment plate in adirection opposite to said second clamping plate and respectively havingengaging ends, said resilient arms extending across said through holewhen said first and second abutment plates abut against said tubularwall; and a locker having two groove sidewalls formed on said firstabutment plate and confining a groove therebetween to receive and locksaid engaging ends when said first and second abutment plates abutagainst said tubular wall, thereby locking said first and secondclamping plates in said clamping position.
 7. The clamp device of claim6, further comprising a support plate projecting transversely from saidsecond abutment plate oppositely of said second clamping plate and fixedto said resilient arms, said resilient arms extending transversely ofsaid support plate while projecting transversely from said secondabutment plate.
 8. The clamp device of claim 7, wherein said lockerfurther has a limit plate projecting transversely from said firstabutment plate in a direction opposite to said first clamping plate,said groove sidewalls being fixed to and projecting transversely fromsaid limit plate and said first abutment plate, said groove sidewallshaving ends defining an access opening therebetween opposite to saidlimit plate to permit said engaging ends of said resilient arms toextend into said groove, said limit plate limiting said engaging endsfrom moving out of said groove in a direction opposite to said accessopening.
 9. The clamp device of claim 8, wherein said ends of saidgroove sidewalls are bent inwardly and oppositely to form corners at twosides of said access opening, said engaging ends of said resilient armsrespectively engaging said corners and abutting against said groovesidewalls after extending into said groove, said resilient arms beingcompressible to move said engaging ends thereof toward each other and todisengage respectively from said corners.
 10. The clamp device of claim9, further comprising a retaining unit adapted to be fixed to one of thepanels in proximity to the aligned receiving holes and having a cord,said hollow seat further including a tab extending outwardly from saidflange and having a cord-looping neck to permit said cord to loop aroundsaid cord-looping neck.